Safe missing from barbecue restaurant; five arrested

Published: Monday, March 18, 2013 at 11:52 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 18, 2013 at 11:52 a.m.

Five people have been charged in connection to a break-in and larceny of a safe from the Barbecue Center on North Main Street, according to arrest warrants.

Detectives with the Lexington Police Department allege in warrants that Kenneth Michael Comer, 26, of 1320 Lower Lake Road, Thomasville, Shana Nicole Holt, 20, of 540-C Brown St., Brittany Michelle Stacy, 19, of 540-D Brown St., Jonathan Paul Lopp, 21, of 203 Shoaf St., and John William Swing, 18, of 308 Swing Drive, were responsible for taking a safe containing approximately $100,000 worth of cash and collectible coins from the restaurant at 900 N. Main St. Each was arrested Sunday and placed in the Davidson County Detention Center under $100,000 secured bonds.

Michael Conrad, one of the co-owners of the family-operated business, said a morning breakfast cook of the Barbecue Center arrived for work at 4:19 a.m. Thursday to find a window shattered. The employee saw an LPD officer patrolling near the restaurant and alerted him of the break-in. Conrad said he learned the 600-pound safe had been stolen from his restaurant's business office.

The door to that office was kicked in, Conrad said. The co-owner explained there was less than $100,000 taken from the business but declined to give his estimate on how much was missing. Conrad said some of the money and collectable coins have been recovered, and the safe had not been recovered as of Monday morning.

"One person did it, the Comer kid," Conrad said, referring to the removal of the safe. "He did it himself."

Comer has been charged with felony breaking and entering, two counts of felony safecracking, felony larceny after breaking and entering and felony possession of a stolen firearm. Stacy, Holt and Swing each have been charged with felony aid and abet breaking and entering, felony aid and abet larceny and safecracking. Lopp has been charged with felony accessory after the fact and felony safecracking.

Conrad identified Swing as one of his curbside service employees. He said the 18-year-old was fired Monday morning. His last day at the restaurant was Saturday.

"It makes me sick because I was good to that guy," Conrad said of Swing. "… He coordinated (the break-in)."

Swing, Conrad said, was employed at the Barbecue Center for about two years.

Detectives allege Swing, Holt and Stacy provided transportation for Comer and gave him information about alarms and camera systems in the business. They also allege Lopp helped load and conceal a safe in the back of his truck after it was stolen from the business and provided transportation.

LPD Maj. Mark Sink declined to comment further on the case Monday morning. The investigation is continuing, and the Lexington Police Department is working with the Davidson County District Attorney's Office.

Anyone with information involving the case is asked to contact the Lexington Police Department at 243-3302 or Lexington Area Crimestoppers at 243-2400.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.

<p>Five people have been charged in connection to a break-in and larceny of a safe from the Barbecue Center on North Main Street, according to arrest warrants.</p><p>Detectives with the Lexington Police Department allege in warrants that Kenneth Michael Comer, 26, of 1320 Lower Lake Road, Thomasville, Shana Nicole Holt, 20, of 540-C Brown St., Brittany Michelle Stacy, 19, of 540-D Brown St., Jonathan Paul Lopp, 21, of 203 Shoaf St., and John William Swing, 18, of 308 Swing Drive, were responsible for taking a safe containing approximately $100,000 worth of cash and collectible coins from the restaurant at 900 N. Main St. Each was arrested Sunday and placed in the Davidson County Detention Center under $100,000 secured bonds.</p><p>Michael Conrad, one of the co-owners of the family-operated business, said a morning breakfast cook of the Barbecue Center arrived for work at 4:19 a.m. Thursday to find a window shattered. The employee saw an LPD officer patrolling near the restaurant and alerted him of the break-in. Conrad said he learned the 600-pound safe had been stolen from his restaurant's business office.</p><p>The door to that office was kicked in, Conrad said. The co-owner explained there was less than $100,000 taken from the business but declined to give his estimate on how much was missing. Conrad said some of the money and collectable coins have been recovered, and the safe had not been recovered as of Monday morning.</p><p>"One person did it, the Comer kid," Conrad said, referring to the removal of the safe. "He did it himself." </p><p>Comer has been charged with felony breaking and entering, two counts of felony safecracking, felony larceny after breaking and entering and felony possession of a stolen firearm. Stacy, Holt and Swing each have been charged with felony aid and abet breaking and entering, felony aid and abet larceny and safecracking. Lopp has been charged with felony accessory after the fact and felony safecracking. </p><p>Conrad identified Swing as one of his curbside service employees. He said the 18-year-old was fired Monday morning. His last day at the restaurant was Saturday.</p><p>"It makes me sick because I was good to that guy," Conrad said of Swing. "… He coordinated (the break-in)."</p><p>Swing, Conrad said, was employed at the Barbecue Center for about two years.</p><p>Detectives allege Swing, Holt and Stacy provided transportation for Comer and gave him information about alarms and camera systems in the business. They also allege Lopp helped load and conceal a safe in the back of his truck after it was stolen from the business and provided transportation.</p><p>LPD Maj. Mark Sink declined to comment further on the case Monday morning. The investigation is continuing, and the Lexington Police Department is working with the Davidson County District Attorney's Office.</p><p>Anyone with information involving the case is asked to contact the Lexington Police Department at 243-3302 or Lexington Area Crimestoppers at 243-2400.</p><p>Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.</p>